The Medieval Chapel, 1520s

In the early sixteenth century, St Stephen’s College was a thriving community at the heart of the royal palace, performing an elaborate round of worship, including music composed by its own members.

A new cloister was built in the 1520s, and survives in part today. Not long afterwards, in 1548, the college was dissolved by Edward VI (1547-1553).

Explore the sections below to find out more about life in St Stephen's Chapel during this period.

Worship
Replica of a Tudor organ, made for the research project 'The Experience of Worship in Late Medieval Cathedral and Parish Church' at Bangor University. © Adrian Holgeth
Music
A page from the Littlyngton Missal, made in 1383-84, and presented by Abbot Nicholas Litlyngton to Westminster Abbey, suggests the potential scale and splendour of such books. Westminster Abbey, MS 37, f.225v. © Dean and Chapter of Westminster
Books
Portrait of Richard II enthroned, made for Westminster Abbey, c.1395. Oil on panel, 213.5 by 110 cm. © Dean and Chapter of Westminster
Remembering the Dead
Historiated initial showing Henry V, at the beginning of his statutes, from a collection of 'Nova Statuta', 1451-c. 1480. British Library, London, MS Yates Thompson 48, f. 172v. Creative Commons License 1.0
Royal Events

The Chapel's Surroundings

Explore the surroundings of St Stephen's Chapel in the 1520s with our annotated 3D model.

>> Explore the Chapel's surroundings

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